GB2434598A

GB2434598A - A secure on-site transportable storage unit without a floor

Info

Publication number: GB2434598A
Application number: GB0701379A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Lorne Entwistle
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2006-01-26
Filing date: 2007-01-25
Publication date: 2007-08-01
Anticipated expiration: 2027-01-25
Also published as: GB2434598B; GB0601545D0; GB0701379D0

Abstract

An on-site storage unit 1 comprises a transportable container which is provided with side walls 2 and a roof 3 but no floor. At least one of the side walls 2 includes a lockable door 4, 5 to allow access to the interior of the unit 1. Advantageously, the storage unit comprises at least one chain or cable 11 that is adapted to lie substantially at floor level and that is connected between two internal sides of opposite walls 2 of the unit. In this way, a vehicle or similar heavy piece of plant can be driven or located straddling the chain or cable 11. The vehicle or plant is thereby used to anchor the unit 1 to the ground but is not so securely held as to enable it to be cleanly lifted if an attempt were made to hoist the unit. Alternatively a plate secured to a side wall may be used as an anchor. A plurality of lifting eyes 9, adapted for retraction into the interior of the unit may be provided. The unit may also have at least one barred window in it's roof, internal wiring and lighting means, preferably powered by a solar panel. A removable floor may be fitted. The unit may form part of a larger transportable container. In use, the storage unit is provided primarily for the secure storage of plant, materials and equipment such as are for use on building sites and the like. The absence of a floor prevents theft of the unit by being hoisted with its contents directly on to the bed of a vehicle, as is common with conventional security units as the contents will be left behind.

Description

-1 -2434598

AN ON-SITE STORAGE UNIT

The present invention relates to an on-site storage unit primarily for the secure storage of plant, materials and equipment such as are for use on building sites and the like.

Conventionally, on a building site it is usual to store plant such as vehicles, materials and machinery in an open situation. Sometimes shipping containers are used as storage containers for security reasons but they are restricted by their size, which prevents large machines or vehicles from being stored inside them. Also, track-laying vehicles would damage the floor of such a container. However, it has become increasingly common for thieves to drive to a building site with their own low-loading vehicle and to hoist the container and its contents on to the bed of the vehicle before driving away.

Effectively, therefore, the container assists the thieves by retaining valuable items on the site in one place. Also, plant which is too large to fit into a conventional shipping container, such as telescopic handlers and the like, has to be left exposed on site where it can be subjected to vandalism.

The object of the present invention is to provide a storage unit which overcomes the aforementioned disadvantages by rendering theft of the container and its contents much more difficult and by being capable of accommodating larger-sized plant.

According to the present invention there is provided an on-site storage unit comprising a transportable container that is provided with side walls and a roof but no floor, at least one of the side walls including a lockable door to allow access to the interior of the unit.

Preferably, the container has at least similar internal dimensions to a conventional shipping container. However, the container can be made in any appropriate size for the plant materials and equipment it is desired to store inside it.

It will be appreciated that such a storage unit cannot simply be hoisted with its contents directly on to the bed of a low-loading vehicle as the contents will be left behind. Advantageously, the storage unit comprises at least one chain or cable adapted to lie substantially at floor level and connected between two internal sides of opposite walls of the unit. In this way, a vehicle or similar heavy piece of plant can be driven or located straddling the chain. The vehicle or plant is thereby used to anchor the unit to the ground but is not so securely held as to enable it to be cleanly lifted if an attempt were made to hoist the unit.

Transportable cabins for use as office, kitchen, restroom, lavatory and washing facilities may also be provided on a building site. In one embodiment of the invention, the storage unit may comprise part of a larger transportable container which is also adapted to provide one or more of other on-site facilities such as those mentioned.

Alternatively or in addition, the storage unit may be provided with means for the fitment of a removable floor thereto. In this way the storage unit can be adapted for conventional storage if required at the option of the user.

Preferred but non-essential features of the various aspects of the present invention are further described in the dependent claims appended hereto.

Embodiments of the various aspects of the present invention will now be described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:-The present invention will now be described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:-Fig. 1 is a schematic perspective view of the exterior of a first embodiment of storage unit in accordance with the present invention; Fig. 2 is a view similar to Fig. 1 but showing the unit with its loading doors open to reveal the interior of the unit; Fig. 3 is a schematic perspective view of the exterior of a second embodiment of storage unit with a removable floor ready for insertion into the unit; and Fig. 4 is an end view of the storage unit shown in Fig. 3 with its door removed to show the interior once the removable floor has been fitted; and Fig. 5 is a schematic perspective view of the end of a third embodiment of storage unit showing a different form of removable flooring for insertion into the unit.

As shown in the Figs. 1 and 2, a first embodiment of storage unit 1 comprises a container, preferably of at least similar internal dimensions to a conventional shipping container and fabricated in the same way from corrugated steel sheets or similar material. It will be appreciated that the unit 1 could be made in any size but a size smaller than a conventional shipping container is unlikely to be practical or economic. Advantageously, the unit i is made significantly larger than a conventional shipping container so that it can accommodate large plant such as a telescopic handler or the like. Typical dimensions of the unit 1 are therefore around 3750 mm wide, 9000 mm long and 3600 mm high. Such a unit 1 could, therefore, be used to accommodate all valuable plant and materials both to keep them safe from theft but also from vandalism.

The unit 1 is fabricated side walls 2 and a roof 3 but no floor. One wall 2 of the unit 1 is primarily taken up by large loading doors 4 that open outwards down to ground level to provide access to the interior of the unit 1 to facilitate loading with equipment, vehicles, and materials to be stored. In addition to the double doors 4, the unit is also provided with a personnel door 5 for convenience. Both the double doors 4 and the personnel door 5 are provided with internal and external security locking systems of conventional type. Although double loading doors are shown in the drawings, it will be appreciated that a single loading door 4 could be substituted, particularly with smaller sized units 1. Also, the personnel door 5 could be located within one of the loading doors 4 in some cases.

The unit preferably also comprises at least one window 6 in one or more of the waIls 2, or preferably, in the roof 4 to discourage vandalism.

Each window is barred, as at 7, or otherwise secured.

In order to provide ventilation to the interior of the unit 1, in particular to prevent a build-up of vehicle exhaust fumes within the unit 1, at least one high level vent 8 is provided either in one of the side walls 2 Or in the roof 3.

The exterior of the unit 1 is provided with a plurality of lifting eyes 9 that enable the unit 1 to be hoist on to the deck of a vehicle for transportation to a required site and then located in position on the ground by a crane., However, the lifting eyes 9 would also facilitate theft of the unit 1 in a similar manner. In order to prevent this, the eyes 9 are made either removable or retractable such that they can be pulled into the interior of the unit 1 after use and secured in a retracted position. This can be accomplished by a suitable locking means (not shown).

In order to facilitate use of the unit 1 as a convenient storage unit on a building site, the unit 1 is preferably internally wired and provided with lighting means, for example fluorescent strip lighting. In order to make the unit completely self-contained, the unit i can be provided with at least one solar panel io linked to a battery arrangement (not shown) located within the unit. Such an arrangement is sufficient to power the lighting means and could also power, for example a security alarm linked to the doors 4 and 5 and the window 6.

A more basic but effective theft-prevention means is located within the unit i. Securely connected between two internal sides of opposite walls 2 of the unit 1 is a heavy chain or cable ii. The chain or cable 11 is arranged to lie at floor level in order that a vehicle or similar heavy piece of plant can be driven or located straddling it. Preferably, a series of such chains or cables ii is provided along the length of the unit 1. In this way, the vehicles or plant that are left straddling the chains or cable ii anchor the unit i to the ground.

This makes it difficult for thieves to hoist the unit 1 and thereby prevents them from lifting the unit i from over the contents of the unit 1 so that the contents can be individually stolen.

The interior of the unit 1 may also be provided with one or more anchoring points, such as rings 12 to which items to be stored within the unit 1 can be secured.

The unit i can also be provided with a series of plates 13 along the lower edges of its walls 2, preferably at least spanning the corners of the unit i. The plates 13 are each pierced in order that on sites where the unit.1 is located on earth, stakes 14 can be driven through the plates 13 to anchor the unit 1 to the ground. Alternatively, on sites where the unit 1 is located on an asphalt or similar surface, bolts (not shown) could be used to secure the unit 1 to the ground through the plates 13 in place of stakes.

It will be appreciated, therefore, that the design of the unit i enables it to overcome the major disadvantage of a conventional storage unit by making theft of the unit and its contents much more difficult. In addition to this, the lack of a floor also provides the advantage that vehicles with aggressive traction means such as track laying excavators, bulldozers and the like can be tracked into the unit 1 without damage to a unit floor. Also, it enables the unit i to be accessed without recourse to a ramp, as is the case with conventional units. Apart from saving in the cost and effort of providing such a ramp, this also has the added advantage that taller vehicles and machinery can be accommodated. Also, there is no weight limit on the vehicles and plant that can be stored, as with conventional units, where the floor can be crushed under the load from heavy plant and materials.

A second embodiment of storage unit 15 will now be described with reference to Figs. 3 and 4. Here, the transportable unit 15 is split into two parts i6 and 17 which are separated by a secure dividing wall 18 so that each part i6 and 17 must be accessed separately. The wall i8 is preferably made of steel and is at least as secure as the outer walls of the unit 15. The first part 16 of the unit comprises an on-site facility such as one or more of office, kitchen, restroom, washing and lavatory facilities. This part 16 is constructed conventionally with a floor and appropriate equipment. It is also provided with its own access door 19. The second part 17, however, comprises a storage facility which is constructed with side walls 20 and a lockable door 21 but no floor. However, the second part 17 is provided with means 22 that will allow a removable floor 23 to be fitted if required. Such a floor 23 can be fitted or removed at the option of the user of the unit 15 dependent on his requirements at any given time.

As shown in Fig. 4, the means 22 may comprise a flange or keyway located around the lower periphery of the interior of the part 17 into which the floor 23 in the form of appropriately sized sheets, for example steel sheets, can be inserted. Releasable clip means 24 may also be providedto grip the floor 23 and anchor it in position.

Fig. 5 shows another embodiment wherein a storage unit 25 is provided with a removable floor in the form of planking 26. Such planking may be made of timber, steel, plastics or any suitable material dependent on the intended use of the unit 25. The unit 25 is also provided with means 27 such as a flange or keyway to enable such a floor to be retained in position and removed therefrom when required.

It will be appreciated that first embodiment of unit 1 described above may also be adapted by the provision of appropriate means to enable a removable floor to be fitted to it if desired. Alternatively or in addition, the storage unit 1 may also be form part of a larger transportable container which is adapted to provide one or more of other on-site facilities such as office, kitchen, restroom, washing and lavatory facilities.

Claims

CLAIMS

1. An on-site storage unit comprising a transportable container that is provided with side walls and a roof but no floor, at least one of the side walls including a lockable door to allow access to the interior of the unit.

2. A unit as claimed in Claim i, comprising at least one chain or cable adapted to lie substantially at floor level and connected between two internal sides of opposite walls of the unit.

3. A unit as claimed in Claim 1 or Claim 2, comprising at least one high level vent for ventilation of the interior of the unit.

4. A unit as claimed in any of Claims 1 to 3, comprising at least one anchoring point located by means of which items of machinery and plant can be secured to the internal side of the walls of the unit.

5. A unit as claimed in any of Claims i to 4, wherein the door comprises at least one loading door through which a vehicle can be driven into the unit.

6. A unit as claimed in any of Claims 1 to 5, comprising a single personnel door.

7. A unit as claimed in Claim 5 or Claim 6, wherein the door or doors are provided with internal and external security locking systems.

8. A unit as claimed in any of Claims 1 to 7, comprising a plurality of lifting eyes that are adapted for removal or for retraction into the interior of the unit where they can be locked in position.

9. A unit as claimed in any of Claims 1 to 8, comprising at least one plate attached to one or more side walls through which the unit can be secured to the ground.

10. A unit as claimed in any of Claims 1 to 9, comprising at least one barred window.

ii. A unit as claimed in Claim lo, wherein the window is located in the roof of the unit.

12. A unit as claimed in any of Claims 1 to ii that is internally wired and provided with lighting means.

13. A unit as claimed in Claim 12, comprising at least one solar panel and battery arrangement to power the lighting means.

14. A unit as claimed in any of Claims 1 to 12, that is provided with means to enable a removable floor to be fitted thereto.

15. A unit as claimed in any of Claims 1 to 13, which forms part of a larger transportable container another part of which is adapted to provide other on-site facilities.

i6. An on-site storage unit substantially as described herein with reference to Figs. i and 2, Figs. 3 and 4 or Fig. 5 of the accompanying drawings.